How To Make Baked Feta Pasta

Ingredients (serves 4)
– 250g fusilli pasta (or your pasta of choice)
– 500g cherry tomatoes
– 250g block feta cheese
– 100ml extra virgin olive oil
– Large pinch sea salt
– Large pinch black pepper
– ½ tsp dried chilli flakes
– A few sprigs of fresh oregano (or tsp dried)
– 2 garlic cloves, finely sliced
– Large handful fresh basil, torn (plus more for serving)
– Large handful spinach leaves
– Handful pine nuts, toasted

1. Preheat oven to 200°. Place the cherry tomatoes in an oven-safe baking dish. Pour the olive oil on top, and season with salt and pepper. Toss until well combined.

2. Place the feta block in the middle of the baking dish surrounded by the cherry tomatoes, and flip a couple times to coat it with the olive oil and seasoning. Sprinkle with chilli flakes and fresh oregano before baking in the oven for 20 minutes. The cherry tomatoes burst and the feta cheese melts.

3. Meanwhile cook the pasta in salted boiling water, drain but reserve a little of the cooking water.

4. Remove the tomatoes and feta dish from the oven and stir in the garlic and basil leaves to combine. Add the cooked pasta, a splash of the cooking water, a big handful of spinach and stir again.

5. Garnish with the toasted pine nuts and more fresh basil. Serve warm.

Whisked Away is a series by food writer and enthusiast Georgia Bateman. Unable to travel like she used to, Georgia is dreaming of places and food from around the world. Her recipes are inspired by these destinations but not intended to be true representations of local dishes.